I am in the planning stages for a trip next spring to Italy with my three kids (ages 7 - 11). After 5 days in Rome (all hustle bustle), I was wondering if we should spend the next 5 nights in a villa in tuscany instead of directly in Florence. Given that they cannot spend day after day in museums, perhaps Florence for us could be a day trip, as can San G., Lucca, Pisa, etc. Does this sound reasonable, or would you always opt for a first trip staying directly in the main city (Florence)? The end of our trip will be in Venice.

I may not be of much help but I did read about a new children's museum in Florence, I believe in the Bargello. It was in the Italian section of the International Herald Tribune; perhaps if you went to www.iht.com, you could find it, or do a search with the key words: children museum Florence. Not having any children of that age, I did not save the article.

Staci, <BR> <BR>We are doing this trip in the spring with our three kids (they will be 9,11, and 17). I have already made reservations for an apartment in Tuscany, just outside of Florence, for two weeks. Our plan is to really settle in there, visiting Florence, the hilltowns and driving out to the beaches. We will drive up to Venice for two days and down to Rome for two days, staying one night in each. My reasoning: the main thing that I want my kids to remember about this trip is the experience of being in another country. Things like trying to communicate, finding your way, new foods, etc. My husband's and my previous experience in Italy was so much more enjoyable when we were outside of the big cities. I am an art history major so my kids are used to being dragged to museums...BUT, museum and church hopping in Italy can be a bit overwhelming, to say the least. We will choose two or three things to see in both Rome and Venice and then let the kids lead us from there. I don't believe that it is advisable or necessary to cram too much into one trip - even a big one like this. I don't know about yours, but that usually ends up making my kids VERY cranky. Given your plan to start in Rome and end in Venice, I think a villa in the countryside would be a very nice breather during your trip. If you have any tips for my family (like where will you be staying in Rome and Venice - I haven't made those reservations yet) feel free to email me. <BR>Audrey

Audrey - Thanks for your response. It is helpful to know how others tackle a similar situation. We will stay at either the De la Ville Intercontinental or the Holiday Inn Crowne Minerva in Rome. I find that it is pretty easy to get the second room for half price if you join the large chain hotel clubs, and go off the main season. In Venice I will probably opt for the Londra Palace. As you guessed, this is a big trip for us. We will do it right or not at all. I doubt we will be traveling anywhere else for the entire year. Staci

Staci and Audrey, <BR>I think it would be smart to plan to be out of Florence ,on that leg of your trip, such as Audrey has planned. <BR>Not sure of your budget, but if you choose a hotel for the tuscany part of your trip, there are a few hotels on the www.venere.com site (under Florence) that are out of the city, (and have pools, but you might be there too early for that) <BR>I think less is more when traveling with children. <BR>Next June we are doing our first Italy trip with our two children(10 and 13) <BR>We are renting an aptartment in Rome for a week, and will spend our second week at a hotel on a beach in the Sperlonga-Gaeta area, with day trips to other sites. <BR>My husband and I were tempted for about 5 mins. to plan another major city for our second week, but as you both have thought of/ mentioned, it just could be *too* much for them to deal with. <BR>And turn a really fun trip into an exhausting ordeal. <BR>Hopefully , there will be future trips, to see more things and places. <BR> <BR>Audrey, <BR>On the www.venere.com site, under Rome, there are some small-medium sized hotels( 46-60 rooms) that people on this site have recommended, which have family type suites. <BR>Albergo Regno, <BR>Hotel Cesari , <BR>Hotel Torre Argentina, <BR>Albergo del Senato, <BR>These are all in the area of P. Navona. <BR>Have a really fun time , all of you! <BR>Nancy